Daily Text and Bible Reading: Tuesday, November 19 [Press play below]

4.1 While the two were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came up to them.
4.2 These were annoyed because the apostles were teaching the people and were openly declaring the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.
4.3 So they seized them and took them into custody until the next day, for it was already evening.
4.4 However, many of those who had listened to the speech believed, and the number of the men became about 5,000.
4.5 The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem,
4.6 along with Annas the chief priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all who were relatives of the chief priest.
4.7 They stood Peter and John in their midst and began to question them: “By what power or in whose name did you do this?”
4.8 Then Peter, filled with holy spirit, said to them: “Rulers of the people and elders,
4.9 if we are being examined today about a good deed to a crippled man, and you want to know who made this man well,
4.10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you executed on a stake but whom God raised up from the dead, by means of him this man stands here healthy in front of you.
4.11 This is ‘the stone that was treated by you builders as of no account that has become the chief cornerstone.’
4.12 Furthermore, there is no salvation in anyone else, for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must get saved.”
4.13 Now when they saw the outspokenness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were astonished. And they began to realize that they had been with Jesus.
4.14 As they were looking at the man who had been cured standing with them, they had nothing to say in answer to this.
4.15 So they commanded them to go outside the Sanhedrin hall, and they began consulting with one another,
4.16 saying: “What should we do with these men? Because, for a fact, a noteworthy sign has occurred through them, one evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.
4.17 So that this does not spread any further among the people, let us threaten them and tell them not to speak to anyone anymore on the basis of this name.”
4.18 With that they called them and ordered them not to say anything at all or to teach on the basis of the name of Jesus.
4.19 But in reply Peter and John said to them: “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, judge for yourselves.
4.20 But as for us, we cannot stop speaking about the things we have seen and heard.”
4.21 So after they had threatened them further, they released them, since they did not find any grounds for punishing them and on account of the people, because they were all glorifying God over what had happened.
4.22 For the man on whom this miracle of healing had been done was more than 40 years old.
4.23 After being released, they went to their own people and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.
4.24 On hearing this, they raised their voices with one accord to God and said:“Sovereign Lord, you are the One who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all the things in them,
4.25 and who said through holy spirit by the mouth of our forefather David, your servant: ‘Why did nations become agitated and peoples meditate on empty things?
4.26 The kings of the earth took their stand and the rulers gathered together as one against Jehovah and against his anointed one.’
4.27 For truly both Herod and Pontius Pilate with men of the nations and with peoples of Israel were gathered together in this city against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed,
4.28 to do what your hand and counsel had determined beforehand to occur.
4.29 And now, Jehovah, give attention to their threats, and grant to your slaves to keep speaking your word with all boldness,
4.30 while you stretch out your hand for healing and while signs and wonders occur through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
4.31 And when they had made supplication, the place where they were gathered together was shaken, and they were one and all filled with the holy spirit and were speaking the word of God with boldness.
4.32 Moreover, the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and not even one of them would say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.
4.33 And with great power the apostles continued giving the witness about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and undeserved kindness was upon them all in large measure.
4.34 In fact, no one was in need among them, for all those who owned fields or houses would sell them and bring the value of what was sold,
4.35 and they would deposit it at the feet of the apostles. In turn distribution would be made to each one according to his need.
4.36 So Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means, when translated, “Son of Comfort”), a Levite, a native of Cyprus,
4.37 owned a piece of land, and he sold it and brought the money and deposited it at the feet of the apostles.
5.1 However, a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, sold some property.
5.2 But he secretly held back some of the price, with his wife’s knowledge, and he brought just a part of it and deposited it at the feet of the apostles.
5.3 But Peter said: “Ananias, why has Satan emboldened you to lie to the holy spirit and secretly hold back some of the price of the field?
5.4 As long as it remained with you, did it not remain yours? And after it was sold, was it not in your control? Why have you thought up such a deed as this in your heart? You have lied, not to men, but to God.”
5.5 On hearing these words, Ananias collapsed and died. And great fear came over all those who heard about it.
5.6 Then the younger men rose, wrapped him in cloths, carried him out, and buried him.
5.7 Now after an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
5.8 Peter said to her: “Tell me, did you two sell the field for so much?” She said: “Yes, for that amount.”
5.9 So Peter said to her: “Why did you two agree to make a test of the spirit of Jehovah? Look! The feet of those who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”
5.10 Instantly she collapsed at his feet and died. When the young men came in, they found her dead and they carried her out and buried her alongside her husband.
5.11 So great fear came over the whole congregation and over all those hearing about these things.
5.12 Moreover, through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders continued to occur among the people; and they would all meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade.
5.13 True, none of the others had the courage to join them; nevertheless, the people were speaking highly of them.
5.14 More than that, believers in the Lord kept on being added, great numbers both of men and of women.
5.15 They even brought the sick out into the main streets and laid them there on small beds and mats, so that as Peter would pass by, at least his shadow might fall on some of them.
5.16 Also, crowds of people from the cities around Jerusalem kept coming, carrying sick people and those troubled with unclean spirits, and they were one and all cured.
5.17 But the high priest rose, and all those with him, who were of the sect of the Sadducees, and they were filled with jealousy.
5.18 And they seized the apostles and put them in the public jail.
5.19 But during the night, Jehovah’s angel opened the doors of the prison, brought them out, and said:
5.20 “Go and take your stand in the temple, and keep on speaking to the people all the sayings about this life.”
5.21 After hearing this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. Now when the high priest and those with him arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin and the entire assembly of elders of the sons of Israel, and they sent out to the jail to have the apostles brought before them.
5.22 But when the officers got there, they did not find them in the prison. So they returned and made their report,
5.23 saying: “We found the jail locked and secure, and the guards were standing at the doors, but on opening it up, we found no one inside.”
5.24 Well, when both the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were perplexed about what would come of this.
5.25 But someone came and reported to them: “Look! The men you put in prison are in the temple, standing and teaching the people.”
5.26 Then the captain went off with his officers and brought them in, but without violence, because they were afraid of being stoned by the people.
5.27 So they brought them and stood them before the Sanhedrin. Then the high priest questioned them
5.28 and said: “We strictly ordered you not to keep teaching on the basis of this name, and yet look! you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you are determined to bring the blood of this man upon us.”
5.29 In answer Peter and the other apostles said: “We must obey God as ruler rather than men.
5.30 The God of our forefathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed, hanging him on a stake.
5.31 God exalted this one as Chief Agent and Savior to his right hand, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.
5.32 And we are witnesses of these matters, and so is the holy spirit, which God has given to those obeying him as ruler.”
5.33 When they heard this, they were infuriated and wanted to do away with them.
5.34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel rose in the Sanhedrin; he was a Law teacher esteemed by all the people, and he gave the command to put the men outside for a little while.
5.35 Then he said to them: “Men of Israel, be careful as to what you intend to do about these men.
5.36 For instance, before these days Theudas rose up, saying he himself was somebody, and a number of men, about 400, joined his party. But he was done away with, and all those who were following him were dispersed and came to nothing.
5.37 After him, Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the registration, and he drew followers after himself. That man also perished, and all those who were following him were scattered.
5.38 So under the present circumstances, I say to you, do not meddle with these men, but let them alone. For if this scheme or this work is from men, it will be overthrown;
5.39 but if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. Otherwise, you may even be found fighters against God himself.”
5.40 At this they took his advice, and they summoned the apostles, flogged them, and ordered them to stop speaking on the basis of Jesus’ name, and let them go.
5.41 So they went out from before the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy to be dishonored in behalf of his name.
5.42 And every day in the temple and from house to house they continued without letup teaching and declaring the good news about the Christ, Jesus.
6.1 Now in those days when the disciples were increasing, the Greek-speaking Jews began complaining against the Hebrew-speaking Jews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution.
6.2 So the Twelve called the multitude of the disciples together and said: “It is not right for us to leave the word of God to distribute food to tables.
6.3 So, brothers, select for yourselves seven reputable men from among you, full of spirit and wisdom, that we may appoint them over this necessary matter;
6.4 but we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
6.5 What they said was pleasing to the whole multitude, and they selected Stephen, a man full of faith and holy spirit, as well as Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch.
6.6 They brought them to the apostles, and after praying, they laid their hands on them.
6.7 Consequently, the word of God continued to spread, and the number of the disciples kept multiplying very much in Jerusalem; and a large crowd of priests began to be obedient to the faith.
6.8 Now Stephen, full of divine favor and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.
6.9 But some men of the so-called Synagogue of the Freedmen came forward, along with some Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, to dispute with Stephen.
6.10 But they could not hold their own against the wisdom and the spirit with which he was speaking.
6.11 Then they secretly persuaded men to say: “We have heard him speaking blasphemous things against Moses and God.”
6.12 And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, and coming upon him suddenly, they forcibly seized him and led him to the Sanhedrin.
6.13 And they brought forward false witnesses, who said: “This man does not stop speaking things against this holy place and against the Law.
6.14 For instance, we have heard him say that this Jesus the Nazarene will throw down this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.”
6.15 And as all those sitting in the Sanhedrin stared at him, they saw that his face was like an angel’s face.